‘A-Z of Three Wheelers: A Definitive Reference Guide’

“The A-Z of Three-Wheelers” by Elvis Payne looks at the world of three-wheel motorcycles.

By Motorcycle Classics staff

| May/June 2014

“The A-Z of Three Wheelers” covers three-wheelers from every continent, and it’s fascinating to discover just how many companies tried — and mostly failed — to find success in the three-wheeled category.Cover courtesy Crecy Publishing

Three-wheel motorcycles have been making something of a comeback of late. Witness the Can-Am Spyder and a plethora of lesser trikes from the Far East. Harley-Davidson, which made the three-wheeled Servi-Car from 1932-1973, has rejoined the trike trend with its Tri Glide Ultra, a fully dressed three-wheeler for the Bar and Shield crowd.

While The A-Z of Three-Wheelers’ main focus is on vehicles with car-like aspirations, it recognizes the importance of three-wheeled motorcycles in the category, including three-wheelers such as the Scott Sociable made by Scott Motorcycle founder Angus Scott, the Ariel Tri-Car and the Convertible Motorcycle built by Lion Cycle Co. in the U.K. And while we’d be happy to see more motorcycle-derived three-wheelers in this book, the vehicles that are included are fantastic, ranging from the space-aged, aerodynamically shaped 1937 Airomobile to the 180-degree steering 1956 Bond Mk C Deluxe Tourer.

And yes, there is a Reliant Robin, the three-wheeler made famous by Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson in a drive report spent mostly on the Robin’s side, with Clarkson rolling it at every opportunity during his drive.

Three-wheelers from every continent are covered, and it’s fascinating to discover just how many companies tried — and mostly failed — to find success in the three-wheeled category. One of many companies that did find success was Daihatsu, Japan’s oldest car company and the first to make motorized tricycles in Japan.

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Organized alphabetically by manufacturer, the book includes model details and features more than 470 photographs of different three-wheelers. Written by three-wheeler enthusiast Elvis Payne with an introduction by Charles Morgan, former chairman of Morgan Motor Co. (Morgan made three-wheelers from 1911-1952 and reintroduced a three-wheeler to its lineup in 2011), The A-Z of Three-Wheelers is a fun and informative look at three-wheelers produced over the last century. Crecy Publishing: 272 pages, $39.95. To order a copy, visit the Motorcycle Classics store: The A-Z of Three-Wheelers. MC

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